DCB "hook and laterals" their way to the playoffs

Trailing by one point with just under 2 minutes to go and at their own 8 yard line, the DCB Lumberjacks pulled out the “Hook and Lateral” play for a 92 yard touchdown as the Jacks defeated Mesabi Range College 28-21 Saturday afternoon in Virginia, Minnesota.  With the win, DCB qualifies for the MCAC playoffs for the third consecutive year (all 3 years they have been in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference) and will head to Wahpeton on Saturday, October 22^nd for a rematch with the North Dakota State College of Science.

On the hook and lateral, QB Ja’Vonte Johnson hit WR Jacob Clair with a 7 yard hook (hitch) route.  Clair then pitched it to trailing D’Ante Goodwin who took it 85 yards for the go ahead score.

DCB started out strong, scoring on their second possession to take a 8-0 lead.  The Lumberjack defense played strong in the first half, holding Mesabi to negative yards in total offense.  The Mesabi defense did score a safety and DCB went in at halftime leading 8-2.  Mesabi tied the game up at 8 in the third quarter and again at 14 after a DCB touchdown and the defense gave up a couple of big passes.  Mesabi then took a 21-14 lead in the 4^th quarter before the Lumberjacks came back, scoring a touchdown to cut the lead to 21-20 before the hook and lateral play with 1:56 remaining in the game.

The Lumberjacks, who won 3 of their last 4 games in the regular season to finish 4-4, will now play #1 seed NDSCS in the quarterfinals of the MCAC playoffs.  The only loss the Wildcats suffered all season came at the hands of DCB on October 1^st when the Lumberjacks reclaimed the “Lumbercat” trophy with a come from behind 30-27 victory in Bottineau.  The “Lumbercat” will not be on the line in this game, but a trip to the MCAC semifinals and a game against a rival will be incentive enough.  Game time is 1:00 on Saturday in Wahpeton.